Landema: our Fair For Life commitments

We are proud to share our actions as part of our Fair For Life (FFL) certification. This demanding certification embodies our fundamental values and we are determined to respect its 7 main commitments:

• Respect for the principle of fairness
• Respect for human rights
• Respect for the environment, biodiversity and the climate
• Contributing to sustainable local development
• Building strong business partnerships
• Ensuring the democratic and sustainable representation of workers
• Transparency and traceability of production

Our commitments to FFL certification take three main forms:

1-Commitments in our own operations:

We have embarked on an FFL certification process within our own operations, with particular attention paid to our Madagascan subsidiary, where we currently have 21 supply channels. The aim of this approach is to improve the working conditions, well-being and living conditions of our employees.

Madagascar landscape. Photo copyright: Landema, Biolandes Group.

2-Collaboration with Arasma:

We work closely with the Arasma association, of which we are a member, to bring together the employees of our farm and the farmers involved. This strengthens our FFL supply channels to Biolandes groupe (of which Landema is a member) Madagascar and/or MAB (Millot Aromatiques Bio). The development funds generated by these responsible channels support collectively decided community actions, directly benefiting local farmers and families. All the farmers and families in the community can benefit directly from these concrete projects.

 

3-Support for our partner producers:

We chose to support our suppliers by implementing sustainable farming practices from the outset. This collaboration has enabled us to develop new certified organic and FFL-labelled crops on their plantations.

 

Our MAB (Millot Aromatiques Bio) farm in Ambanja:

Since our creation in 2021, Landema has made responsible and sustainable sourcing a priority. Our MAB farm in Ambanja, Madagascar, is central to our commitment.

On 185 hectares of organic and FFL crops, managed by our local employees, we grow raw materials such as Curcuma, Geranium Bourbon, Ginger, Niaouli, Patchouli, Ravintsarra, Vetiver and Ylang-Ylang. Our MAB farm is equipped with 16 stills and is completely energy self-sufficient. Ylang-ylang is our main product, but we continue to invest to improve the tools and working conditions of our teams throughout the year.

By optimising the cultivation, distillation and use of the plants we grow, we can guarantee the quality of the aromatic ingredients we offer our customers, right down to the conditions in which they are produced. These actions demonstrate our commitment to improving the overall living and working conditions of our employees and their families.

The concrete actions supported by the Ambanja development fund include:

• Construction of a bridge to reduce walking time during the rainy season;

Construction du pont à Ambanja. Copyright photo : Landema, groupe Biolandes.

 

• Participation in the construction of a community center;

Building the bridge at Ambanja. Photo copyright: Landema, Biolandes Group.

• Financing photovoltaic panels on the roof of a local school;

Mise en place panneaux photovoltaïques. Copyright photo : Landema, groupe Biolandes.

• Creation of a well in a village near the farm to facilitate access to water;
• Financing of public lighting in several villages.
• Construction of the ambohimena ny CNIA school;
• Construction of fonkontany matsaborilava offices;
• Construction of health centres in Matsaborilava;
• Street lighting Ambohimena, Matsaborilava, andimaka, ankatafa vaovao;
• Help with schooling for the children of members of the association;
• Helping to buy toys for the children of association members at Christmas;
• Organisation of end-of-year parties for members of the association and employees;
• Help with family events;
• Sponsoring Matsaborilava football players.

 

They benefit partner farmers and their families, who have at least one permanent employee on the farm: 82 direct beneficiaries at ARASMA, 120 students at the AURACACIA Mahabibo Ambohimena school, 3,000 people for public lighting in the villages of Matsaborilava, Ambohimena, Andimaka and Ankatafa Vaovao. Some actions have been extended to temporary employees.

In addition to our own production lines, we work closely with local producers who are certified organic by Ecocert and have the FFL label. The development funds paid to these suppliers also help to finance community, solidarity and responsible actions for their employees and direct partners.

 

A Sustainable Farm in Moramanga, Madagascar:

The FFL raw materials we offer are grown and distilled by a family of farmers in Madagascar with whom we have a long-standing partnership. In particular, they grow and distil turmeric, geranium bourbon, ginger, ravintsara and niaouli. This collaboration allows us to promote sustainable farming practices and develop new crops that are certified organic and have the FFL label.

The plantation of our family of partner farmers is located in the Moramanga region, between Tananarive, the capital, and Tamatave, the main port on the east coast of the country. All the products from the Moramanga farm are certified organic and carry the FFL label, guaranteeing the sustainable cultivation of raw materials and endemic plants such as niaouli, ravintsara, lemongrass and eucalyptus.

The actions financed by the FFL development fund are chosen collectively by the workers according to the specific needs of the moment. The farm's other FFL-approved products also contribute to the overall budget.

 

Paysage madagascar. Copyright photo : Landema, groupe Biolandes.

 

The concrete actions supported by the development fund in Moramanga include:

• Setting up pig farming (22 families involved) ;
• Establishment of rice cultivation (17 families involved);
• Monitoring the progress of Citriodora reforestation;
• Development of terraces damaged by fire and washed away by rainwater (Beforona village);
• Financing school supplies (25 families involved);
• Creation of a well for each household (8 families involved);

 

 

FFL raw materials supplied to Kenya and Uganda:

In addition to our farms in Madagascar, we also source FFL raw materials from partners in Kenya and Uganda. In Kenya, we work in partnership with local farmers within the KAOOFA association. Together, we are developing an FFL supply chain for the distillation of tea tree leaves. The development fund set up supports these farmers during the dry seasons by financing water reservoirs to irrigate their food crops.

In Uganda, our commitment to fairness is demonstrated by the creation of a Fair Trade Committee. This committee, made up of representatives of the farm's employees, partner farmers and the local school, manages various community projects.

The following community projects have been selected:

• Production of soaps with essential oils from the distillery for personal use by each member of the community, as well as for the students at the school, or for sale in order to develop a sustainable source of income for the community;
• Financing a sewing machine, the purchase of fabric and the employment of a seamstress to make uniforms for the school's students at a lower cost. The rest of the money is used to plaster the walls of the school and part is saved to build a well to create a water source;
• Setting up a seed multiplication operation for food crops (cassava) for households in the community;

 

Your responsible commitment:

Choosing the FFL raw materials offered by Landema means supporting responsible and sustainable industries while helping to develop a supply chain that has a positive impact on all its stakeholders.